In case you are wondering why the film title “Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga” has been taken from a popular song title of the 90’s hit movie 1942: A Love Story, then you are in for a beautiful surprise- a potential same-sex romance.
Produced by Vidhu Vinod Chopra and Fox Star Studios, this star-studded film is certainly not like a typical Bollywood movie where a man and a woman fall in love with each other. Rather it is a story of a queer Punjabi girl who deals with the societal pressure a woman faces when people force her to settle down with a man.
In a time when the whole country is celebrating the decriminalizing homosexuality as well as there are protests against the Transgender Persons Bill 2018, the trailer of the movie is winning everyone’s heart because of the story perspective. Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga is another bold step from Bollywood towards normalizing the conversation around homosexuality and further lifting the taboo around it.
While the film marks the debut of Shelly Chopra Dhar as a director, south Indian actress Regina Cassandra is playing Sonam’s potential love interest in the movie.
Inspired by the movie ‘A Damsel in Distress‘ by P. G. Wodehouse, the script of Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga is written by a transwoman Gazal Dhaliwal and is reportedly to be “the most unexpected romance of the year”. Gazal was biologically born as a man and was known as Gunraj to the world. Till the age of 25, she lived with Gender Dysphoria – where a person does not associate with the biological gender he or she is born with. Finally, in the year 2007, she underwent a Sex Reassignment Surgery (SRS) and became Gazal from Gunraj. She started her career as a software engineer in Infosys, but her love for cinema and writing made her quit her job. She then moved to Mumbai in 2005 to pursue her dream of being a screenwriter.
Through an Instagram post, Gazal shared a poster of the film and wrote- “Yay! I started writing this film 26 months back. So, you might say it was 2 years in the making. But I would say it was several decades in the making.”
The makers were eyeing the month of love for the release, thankfully we have a date now as the film is set to release on February 1.
#LetLoveBe – While the film brings under spotlight- homophobia, middle-class marriages and society’s mindset; it asks people to accept love for what it is.
Here is what twitteratis are saying:
You know what stands out the most in the trailer of Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga? Sonam replying, “Par meri umeed pe to khare aap bi ni utre, daddy” (But you didn’t live up to my expectations either, daddy) to her dad’s “Tere se ye umeed ni thi”(I didn’t expect this from you).
— Ananya Bhatnagar (@ananya6410) December 27, 2018
Haven’t been so excited about a Hindi movie in a while. Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga HAS MY COMPLETE ATTENTION. THIS. IS. THE. REPRESENTATION. WE. HAVE. BEEN. WAITING. FOR. this isn’t queer-baiting right? THIS IS REALITY RIGHT?? WATCH ME NOT SHUT UP pic.twitter.com/5yCcqnURwR
— M (@dsmav_) December 27, 2018
https://t.co/3nGH5qgxM0 more power to u @sonamakapoor for doing a decidedly different role within the mainstream format. And more power to u to @AnilKapoor. It’s wonderful mainstream films are talking about so called taboo issues as well. Love and respect😍❤️
— J (@jiteshpillaai) December 27, 2018
Watch the trailer here:
Widely known for always speaking her mind, Sonal Kapoor is being greatly appreciated on social media for portraying a homosexual character from the female gender.
Are you looking forward to the movie?